Department managers are responsible for the effectiveness of their department. A department manager’s responsibilities are often the same regardless of an organization’s size or structure, though a company’s structure may differ from one another. Below is what a department manager can expect to make in an average year, according to the website Salary.com.
The average salary for a department manager is between $72,000 and $96,000. That’s pretty good! A successful department store like Macy’s has a responsibilities for their managers. Starting with the basics of a working schedule, to building effective consumer relationships. Plus, this position can be difficult due to the many positions that fall under it like assistant managers as well as sales associates. And, Macy’s makes sure that their department managers are on track for every task and goal by evolving them through the process of training and evaluation.
Salary for department manager
A good starting salary for a department manager is $29,000 in the United States. That puts you in the 10th percentile of annual income for a department manager in the U.S., which is about what you would expect if you were new to the field. The average salary for department managers is $51,807, but that normally requires some level of experience to achieve. Furthermore, a good starting salary for a department manager can vary by state.
A good starting salary for a department manager is $29,000 in the United States. That puts you in the 10th percentile of annual income for a department manager in the U.S., which is about what you would expect if you were new to the field. The average salary for department managers is $51,807, but that normally requires some level of experience to achieve. Furthermore, a good starting salary for a department manager can vary by state, as we show below.
What Is A Good Entry-Level Department Manager Salary By State?
The following table shows how much an entry level department manager earns in each state. Zippia used data from the BLS, public records, and job postings to create these estimates.
| State | Starting Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
| New Jersey | $68,000 | $5,666 | $1,307 | $32.69 |
| New York | $62,000 | $5,166 | $1,192 | $29.81 |
| Rhode Island | $54,000 | $4,500 | $1,038 | $25.96 |
| District of Columbia | $54,000 | $4,500 | $1,038 | $25.96 |
| Connecticut | $53,000 | $4,416 | $1,019 | $25.48 |
| Delaware | $49,000 | $4,083 | $942 | $23.56 |
| Hawaii | $49,000 | $4,083 | $942 | $23.56 |
| New Hampshire | $47,000 | $3,916 | $903 | $22.6 |
| Maryland | $47,000 | $3,916 | $903 | $22.6 |
| Virginia | $46,000 | $3,833 | $884 | $22.12 |
| Massachusetts | $45,000 | $3,750 | $865 | $21.63 |
| California | $43,000 | $3,583 | $826 | $20.67 |
| Pennsylvania | $41,000 | $3,416 | $788 | $19.71 |
| Maine | $39,000 | $3,250 | $750 | $18.75 |
| Nevada | $37,000 | $3,083 | $711 | $17.79 |
| Vermont | $37,000 | $3,083 | $711 | $17.79 |
| Alaska | $36,000 | $3,000 | $692 | $17.31 |
| Wisconsin | $29,000 | $2,416 | $557 | $13.94 |
| Washington | $29,000 | $2,416 | $557 | $13.94 |
| Ohio | $28,000 | $2,333 | $538 | $13.46 |
| North Dakota | $28,000 | $2,333 | $538 | $13.46 |
| Michigan | $27,000 | $2,250 | $519 | $12.98 |
| Montana | $27,000 | $2,250 | $519 | $12.98 |
| Oregon | $27,000 | $2,250 | $519 | $12.98 |
| Minnesota | $27,000 | $2,250 | $519 | $12.98 |
| Idaho | $25,000 | $2,083 | $480 | $12.02 |
| Florida | $24,000 | $2,000 | $461 | $11.54 |
| Texas | $24,000 | $2,000 | $461 | $11.54 |
| North Carolina | $24,000 | $2,000 | $461 | $11.54 |
| South Dakota | $24,000 | $2,000 | $461 | $11.54 |
| Arizona | $23,000 | $1,916 | $442 | $11.06 |
| Wyoming | $23,000 | $1,916 | $442 | $11.06 |
| Utah | $22,000 | $1,833 | $423 | $10.58 |
| Nebraska | $22,000 | $1,833 | $423 | $10.58 |
| Georgia | $21,000 | $1,750 | $403 | $10.1 |
| West Virginia | $21,000 | $1,750 | $403 | $10.1 |
| Iowa | $21,000 | $1,750 | $403 | $10.1 |
| New Mexico | $21,000 | $1,750 | $403 | $10.1 |
| Colorado | $21,000 | $1,750 | $403 | $10.1 |
| Illinois | $20,000 | $1,666 | $384 | $9.62 |
| Kansas | $20,000 | $1,666 | $384 | $9.62 |
| South Carolina | $19,000 | $1,583 | $365 | $9.13 |
| Indiana | $19,000 | $1,583 | $365 | $9.13 |
| Alabama | $19,000 | $1,583 | $365 | $9.13 |
| Mississippi | $19,000 | $1,583 | $365 | $9.13 |
| Missouri | $19,000 | $1,583 | $365 | $9.13 |
| Louisiana | $18,000 | $1,500 | $346 | $8.65 |
| Tennessee | $18,000 | $1,500 | $346 | $8.65 |
| Arkansas | $18,000 | $1,500 | $346 | $8.65 |
| Oklahoma | $18,000 | $1,500 | $346 | $8.65 |
| Kentucky | $17,000 | $1,416 | $326 | $8.17 |
What are The 10 Highest Paying Cities for Entry-Level Department Manager Jobs?
We’ve identified 10 cities where the typical salary for an entry level department manager job is above the national average. Topping the list is New York, NY.
| City | Starting Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
| New York, NY | $80,000 | $6,666 | $1,538 | $38.46 |
| Washington, DC | $70,000 | $5,833 | $1,346 | $33.65 |
| Baltimore, MD | $62,000 | $5,166 | $1,192 | $29.81 |
| Chesapeake, VA | $61,000 | $5,083 | $1,173 | $29.33 |
| Richmond, CA | $58,000 | $4,833 | $1,115 | $27.88 |
| Portland, ME | $53,000 | $4,416 | $1,019 | $25.48 |
| Reno, NV | $51,000 | $4,250 | $980 | $24.52 |
| Cleveland, OH | $44,000 | $3,666 | $846 | $21.15 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $43,000 | $3,583 | $826 | $20.67 |
| Detroit, MI | $38,000 | $3,166 | $730 | $18.27 |
